Beautiful bluebell portrait sessions in Dorset and Hampshire
It’s one of my favourite (and busiest) times of the year again – yippee! The beautiful bluebells have begun to rear their heads and so I’ll soon be kickstarting my bluebell portrait sessions in Dorset and Hampshire.
Related reading: Bluebell woods portraits: it’s finally time!
Why hire a professional photographer for a bluebell portrait session?
Bluebells are an absolute joy to photograph, although are tricky if you don’t know how.
If you’ve ever tried to take your own photos among the bluebell woods, you’ll have realised that it’s harder than you probably imagined!
It really is a fine art balancing the delicate colours of the bluebells with the darker colours of the surrounding trees and woodland, while getting your subject and the delicate bluebells in sharp focus.
Add in the fact that there are typically low light conditions in bluebell woods, and you can begin to see why, if you’re armed with only a smartphone camera and only a basic understanding of photography – you can struggle to achieve the images like mine.
Which is why so many families every year choose to hire me and book one of my now infamous bluebell portrait sessions in Dorset or Hampshire.
As an experienced professional photographer who is equally comfortable outdoors as I am working in my photography studio, I’m literally in my element photographing families among the outdoors during springtime.
The very best bluebells in Dorset and Hampshire
Another reason to hire me for bluebell portraits is that I seek out the very best patches of bluebells; usually well off the beaten track.
My friend Jacky and I are often on the scout for new outdoor locations and so far, this year we’ve already discovered some lovely patches of emerging bluebells across Dorset and Hampshire which I can’t wait to take my clients to.
Unfortunately, my favourite spots for bluebells in recent years have become more and more popular and the poor bluebells are getting trampled on by those who don’t realise just how delicate these pretty little flowers are.
Did you know that bluebells take up to seven years to grow back after they’ve been squashed?!
If you’re planning a visit with your little ones, please do remember how easy it is to damage the flowers. When you visit, please stick to the paths as much as possible and encourage your children to do the same.
Book your bluebell portrait session today!
My outdoor bluebell portrait sessions in Dorset and Hampshire are extremely popular every single year, and always sell-out quickly.
So, if you’re wanting some gorgeous maternity, child or family portraits among the pretty bluebells this spring, like the ones I’m showing here which were all taken on location last year, then be sure to get in touch with me ASAP to secure your slot.
Why professional photographers edit their photographs
If you haven’t hired a professional photographer before, you could be forgiven for wondering why professional photographers edit their photographs.
Common questions I have been asked by clients before include:
- Why do the images need editing – surely a skilled professional photographer creates the image in the camera itself, not on the computer?
- Why can’t I just be sent the digital images, on the day of my photoshoot?
- And, why must I wait up to several weeks to view my images?
The thing is, I realise that when you’ve had your photoshoot, you’re so excited. I know that you just cant wait to see the results!
But I don’t make you wait for your images just to tease you, I promise!
There is a valid reason why, and that is that there is a final stage in the process after the photoshoot itself. And that process is editing.
Almost all professional photographers (some may not, but certainly most do) edit their photographs. It’s a critical step in the process. And in today’s blog I’ll explain that in a little more detail.
What’s involved in a professional photoshoot
Despite what you might think, there is much more to a photographer’s work than setting up a shot and then clicking the buttons on the camera.
- Lots of planning goes into it before you even turn up for your photoshoot
- And after the session, many more hours are spent finalising the pictures so that they are ready for you to print.
Which also explains why professional photography comes at a considerable cost.
You aren’t just paying for the time I spend during your phootshoot – which is up to an hour for most portrait sessions, or several hours for a newborn session.
Behind the scenes of a professional photography shoot
Each and every photoshoot I do involves many hours of work behind the scenes too!
But since you typically only see the final images when I share them on Facebook or in your online photo gallery, you’ve perhaps not realised that there is such a lot of work involved.
Before the photoshoot
Yep, creative styling is a huge part of the work in advance of any photoshoot. Whether that’s a maternity or newborn session, a baby ‘sitter session’ or group portraits with older children, or a family studio shoot.
After all, those coloured backdrops, props, dresses, headbands, newborn outfits and wraps, don’t buy themselves! And I need to setup the photography studio so I am ready for you, with everything I’m likely to need to be at hand.
I have to create and pre-plan my shoots and then editing is a fundamental part of the creative process after the shoot in order to get the image just right.
After the photoshoot
While I will always aim to get the portrait as good as I can in camera, there is always some editing to be done afterwards. I use digital editing techniques to finish each and every image that I include in your gallery.
I do this so that each image is consistent with my KW Photography brand style; something that I’ve developed over the years and which sets me apart from other photographers.
Without that editing, which is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle so to speak, they simply aren’t finished KW Photography images.
Plus, as in the example below, there may be a need to do some editing to digitally remove parts of the image.
During my newborn photoshoots, I make sure that I always pose babies safely. When I’m trying to achieve portraits like this one, I ask parents to support their child’s head while I take the photos. Then, once the image is edited afterwards, all signs of the parent’s hand or arm are removed. Like magic!
Editing out blemishes
There’s also another reason why editing is important. Often newborn babies have blotchy, uneven coloured skin for the first few weeks. And marks or blemishes on their bodies that parents would prefer to be removed on the computer.
Also, older children may have chickenpox scars or snotty noses (I’ve certainly edited out plenty of snot in my six years as a baby and child photographer!). I can edit the images that I take in my camera to whisk these away!
If a portrait of your newborn baby or child is going to be hung on the walls at home, it’s usually the parent’s preference to have me edit the image so that these things are removed. But let me assure you, I won’t edit to the extreme! I have limits on what I will do.
Why professional photographers edit their photographs
So, I hope that helps to explain why professional photographers edit their photographs? And why there is a small delay in getting the images to you for viewing and ordering.
If you have any questions or concerns about the editing process, do always ask me your questions either in advance or during your photoshoot.
To book your session please contact me today. I’m available on 07749 270431 or email me at karenwiltshire@me.com or complete this contact form.
Karen x
Perfect portraits captured in unlikely locations
Perfect portraits
Hey, everyone!
If like me, you have been enjoying the great outdoors this summer, then you can’t have failed to notice the grass getting long and that patches of wildflowers have appeared. The council has also been leaving it longer between grass cuts.
This is great for the wild bee population, and the butterflies have been in abundance this summer.
The long grass and wildflowers are not only great for the insects though – I love it too! (Except on the A31, where it’s really dangerous coming to the roundabouts!)
Through the lens: What I see
Every day I drive past a small but perfectly formed patch of wildflowers on the way to school. To me, they are just crying out to but used in a photoshoot!
I’m sure most people would think I am slightly nuts getting excited about this. After all, it’s just a small patch – a couple of meters long – at the side of the road! But what I see through the camera lens is different to what others see.
Despite what you might think, as a portrait photographer, I don’t need a sweeping meadow or an amazing vista as a backdrop. I can see the potential in even the most unlikely locations.
I know how to make a perfect portrait in the most unexpected of places and even in very small spaces.
Trying out an unlikely location
So, armed with one of my many new dresses from the studio, and a willing small person off I ventured.
Safety is really important to me – as you can see from the video below, we were at a safe distance from the road. And mum, of my model Betsy, is right there too, keeping an eye on the children while I take the portraits.
Another thing to point out is that it is hugely important to me that we don’t damage the flowers at all. We don’t wade through the patch, reeking havoc! Instead, we stand on the edge and I can use clever camera angles to make it appear as though the child is actually in among the flowers in the final photo.
Betsy loved the flowers and the dresses and we had a great time getting some lovely location portraits for her mummy.
On another occasion, I took my daughter and her friend back to the same spot for a few more.
And on that day, we also found a patch of long grass which I didn’t even know was there. Although this all took place so close to home, it’s not something I had noticed before. It goes to show what beautiful things we could all be missing out on, right on our doorstep!
Perfect portraits captured in unlikely locations
So what do you think?
Would you have known that these portraits were taken next to such a small patch of flowers alongside a main road?! I suspect, not.
I love creating perfect portraits in unlikely locations like this!
Do get in touch with me if you would like something similar. Contact me on 07749 270431 or you can email me at karenwiltshire@me.com or complete this contact form.
And let me know in the comments if you know of any little patches of flowers locally that might be suitable for your very own location shoot!
An invitation to enjoy my new outdoor photography studio
Outdoor Photography studio
At the rear of the KW Photography photography studio, I have a large garden and I had it excavated last year. I’m planning to turn this space into an outdoor photography studio. It was hugely overgrown – more like a jungle! It took weeks and weeks of hard work to clear it. But now, at last, you can actually see the wood for the trees, so to speak!
Well, suffice to say, it was a job well worth doing. Because, this year I am now able to offer you the option of having your portraits taken outdoors as well as indoors, all on one site!
Yep, if you are looking to have natural, outdoor portraits taken of the kids this summer, then look no further. This is exactly what I am now offering in my new outdoor photography studio (a.k.a the garden)!
Studio and on-location photography in one session
On the days when the weather has been kind recently, I’ve started inviting clients outside. Everyone I have taken out there so far seems to be loving the new outdoor photography studio.
They like that they can get both indoor and outdoor portraits taken in the one session with me, which naturally results in a wider variety of images for them to choose from and buy.
And the cherry on the cake, of course, is that it’s now possible to do this without us all having to leave the premises and that it’s available at no additional cost!
A natural backdrop for maternity, baby and family portraits
I planted thousands of bulbs last year after the garden was cleared and am thrilled that these have mostly been successful. I had a carpet of bluebells in the spring, and now have a lovely mix of shrubs and grasses which have created a lovely backdrop for the outdoor portraits.
As you can see, baby Jennie loved being in the garden! I took the miniature enamel bath outside and she splashed away in the fresh air! It was lovely to watch. She even gave me loads of smiles despite the pain she was in with her pesky teeth that day.
And when this gorgeous little girl decided that she didn’t want to have her photo taken in the studio, the outdoor photography studio was the perfect solution!
Come and discover my garden studio
Another great thing about the garden studio is that it extends quite far back and so there’s lots of scope to create a variety of pictures.
I had a fabulous giant swing installed earlier in the year which is ideal for the bigger kids and adults, and I’ve also got lots of props like vintage trikes, chairs and wheelbarrows which are cute to include in pictures of the younger ones.
I’m so thrilled that I am finally getting to use the outside space here at KW Photography HQ in Poole. I’ve wanted to for years now. And I’m really pleased that feedback has been so positive about this exciting new service.
Book your outdoor photography studio session today
The outdoor photography studio is a safe and welcoming place for both children and adults. I look forward to inviting you to come and try it out for yourself.
Remember, I’m able to create professional portraits of you, your children or your entire family, and I specialise in both styled studio portraits and relaxed outdoor photos.
So whether you want to combine a studio session with some time in the garden, or if you just want an outdoor session, the choice is entirely yours.
Please contact me to book your session. I’m available on 07749 270431 or you can email me at karenwiltshire@me.com or complete this contact form.
Karen x
In the age of the iPhone, do you need a professional photographer?
Hey, everyone!
May is almost here. The sun is starting to shine a little longer each day. And the beautiful flowers are starting to bloom, enticing us all outside for some well-earned family time.
When I log into Facebook my newsfeed at the moment, it is positively bursting with my friends’ lovely snaps of their children. It’s great to see so many of you out and about among the spring flowers.
Since we all have smartphones with pretty sophisticated cameras these days, it is certainly possible to take some great shots simply with your phone.
So, this got me thinking.
In the age of the iPhone, do you need a professional photographer?
Playing devils advocate for a minute, why would you want to book a professional photographer, like me?
When you can potentially capture great outdoor portraits on your phone, is the investment into a pro photographer worth the money?
Is it really worth spending a couple of hundred pounds on professional portraits when you can take your own for free?
So, with this in mind, last week I did a bit of an experiment.
Comparing the iPhone with a professional camera
When I was out in the bluebell woods myself, photographing the beautiful Amira , I grabbed my phone (a shiny new iPhone ) and handed it to Amira’s mummy.
I asked her to get some photos of me photographing Amira, and some shots of Amira on her own.
Putting the iPhone to the test
Now my iPhone is great. Being the latest model, it has an excellent quality integrated camera. So, I was actually amazed at how badly the shots turned out.
I expected vibrant bluebells, a gorgeous warm glow and a creamy background with Amira looking amazing in the foreground.
But this is the shot from my iPhone. You can see for yourself, it isn’t very impressive!
In fact, it’s hard to see Amira at all!
The background is way too clear and messy, the colours are flat and where has that gorgeous warm glow gone?
I was pretty disappointed with the iPhone’s performance to be honest.
Why you need a professional photographer
In contrast to the poor quality iPhone picture that Amira’s mummy took, this is the portrait I captured on my professional camera.
I took this photo while I was stood next to Amira’s mummy. So I was in the same location at the same time, working with the exact same lighting conditions.
I use a professional quality Canon camera and, an essential piece of my kit for this kind of shot, a really long lens.
The advantage of a long lens over the iPhone is that it it allows me to do a tighter crop of the subject. And it does an amazing job of blurring out that messy background and bringing Amira to the forefront of the photo, since I am in control of the apeture of the lens.
The result is a carpet of gorgeous bluebells (deliberately, not all in focus), the child in sharp focus (drawing your eye immediately to her) and the gorgeous golden light falling on her skin.
Wow! Isn’t this a major improvement to the iPhone snap!
Amateur vs. pro photography
You could be forgiven for thinking that these two pictures weren’t taken on the same day, let alone the same time! There is such a huge difference between the two images!
The professional portraits I took were a hit with Amira’s mummy and I’m told that this one is going to be printed and mounted onto the walls at Amira’s home.
The iPhone snap will be deleted!
Heres a few more of the stunning Amira
Proof you need a professional photographer
So, that’s why (in my opinion anyway), in the age of the iPhone you still need a professional photographer!
Even with the very latest smartphones and iPhone cameras at our disposal, the results are so inferior to the quality that a professional photographer can produce.
Now I know this, of course, but I wonder if the thought has ever crossed your mind before? Whether you need a professional photographer? Or whether you could save yourself some money and do a D.I.Y portrait session.
Well, if you’re after the kind of portraits that I can produce, I hope that this may have helped you to answer that question!
If you’re now convinced and would like to book a spring flowers outdoor photoshoot, please contact me as soon as possible to book your slot. I’m on 07749 270431 or email me at karenwiltshire@me.com or complete the contact form on my website.
The bluebells are only around for a few more weeks and I only have limited bluebell sessions left.
Karen x
A day in the life of a children's photographer - Pumpkin patch
A day in the life of a Dorset children’s photographer.
So, the sun is shining but there’s a little chill in the air. This can only mean one thing. That summer has passed and autumn is in full swing.
I love those late summer evenings with the golden glow of sunset, but I have to confess I really love autumn too. The colours and bright crisp days are great for a little location photography. Just wrap the kids up warm, hats, scarves and gloves, chunky jumpers, and wellies. It’s a kid’s dream! They love running in the leaves and splashing in puddles (I mean, who doesn’t? If only us grown-ups could get away with it) and generally being kids!
Today I headed off in search of a slightly different type of location. After a quick search on the internet, I found a great “Pick your own” pumpkin farm on the edge of the New Forest in Sopley.
What a great backdrop for a photoshoot and with half term and Halloween just around the corner, it seemed like a great opportunity to get some fun seasonal photos. We followed the pumpkin signs and found it fairly easily, pulled into the carpark, and Wow! Row upon row of pumpkins. It was a photographer’s dream. A photo opportunity around every pumpkin.
The boys had an absolute blast choosing the biggest and best pumpkin. The farm even supply little sledges for you fill with your finds.
Not content with just pumpkin picking, the boys decided to test out their wellies. This meant things were going to get very messy! Well, boys will be boys and I loved the fact that they had so much fun out in the fresh air on their photoshoot. We had plenty of lovely clean shots before the splashing started so mum was pretty relaxed about the mess.
Things quickly got even messier with all three boys enjoying the splashing fun.
We finished off the trip a lovely photo on the farm tractor. The boys had a fantastic photoshoot doing exactly what boys love doing, getting messy!
If you’d like a lovely Autumnal location photoshoot then please get in touch (I promise puddle jumping doesn’t have to be included). What a great way to spend the day making memories with Dorset children’s photographer!
Bye for now
Karen x
My top tips for photographing reluctant children
Have you ever tried to photograph a child who does NOT want to be photographed? (I presume you are nodding your head right now.)
Yes, it can be very difficult, for sure!
Photographing reluctant children
I have literally photographed thousands of children over the years and, believe me, not all of those have wanted to have their photo taken.
Delaying and avoidance tactics? You name it, I’ve seen it!
You could say that photographing reluctant children is a day to day occurrence for me.
Over the years I’ve developed lots of coping strategies for handling even the most resistant children.
I often see parents getting stressed when their child doesn’t cooperate during a photoshoot. But there really is no point.
I always get the shot I am after eventually. If you heed my tips below you will too!
My three top tips
1. Be prepared to wait
While it can take time to get reluctant children to cooperate, you’ll usually be rewarded for your perseverance and persistence.
Don’t rush the child or make them feel under pressure to perform to the camera.
As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait!
2. Let them explore the environment
Whether I’m photographing on location or in my photography studio, the setting is usually new to the child.
So I let the child get comfortable in the surroundings first, before attempting to take their portrait.
I also often pull out props for younger children to climb on – chairs, a rocking horse, or a toy car for example.
Toys such as teddies and softballs are also good to distract a reluctant child.
If outdoors, encourage them to find sticks or leaves, and run around for a while to burn off some energy before you attempt to take their portrait.
3. Make them laugh
If a young child is refusing to look at the camera or, worse, is crying or having a tantrum, I sing!
A quick rendition of ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’ or ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ usually induces a smile. Or at least a cursory glance.
And that’s despite my terrible singing voice!
Noisy toys – things that squeak, rattle or jingle – also work well to get them, at least, looking in the right direction.
